ENZOOTIC ABORTION IN COWS. 127 



tened for the butcher, every one, until it became too niucli of 

 a job to carry through. Then I allowed them to remain in the 

 dairy and to take the bull after a considerable period. Abor- 

 tion continued in my herd for about two years, taking nearly 

 fifty per cent, of my calves, when it left me as suddenly as 

 it came. It left me at the period when the services of a cer- 

 tain bull ceased. I had had two bulls and had abortions, 

 from the calves of both bulls, l)ut still, when the service of 

 this one bull ceased there was no more abortion on my farm 

 and it has disappeared from the neighborhood. It did not 

 pass from my land on to the adjoining farm. I have retained 

 the same cows ; they are all of home breeding. 



These are all the facts that I have. I leave you to draw 

 your own conclusions about them. AVe think there is more 

 than one way by which it spreads, and we have strong sus- 

 picions that the male is as important a factor in it as the 

 female, and even more so. 



Mr. A. Bradley of Lee. I would like to inquire if we- 

 have reason to expect that abortion will continue more than 

 one or two years ? That is, if it comes into my herd and 

 exists there this year, have I reason to expect a continuation 

 year after year, or does it disappear after one or two years ? 



Mr. Gold. There are no facts that have come within my 

 knowledge that would enable me to answer that question. 



jNIr. J. L. Cragin of Athol. I would like to ask if your 

 bull served cows in other herds among your neighbors that 

 did not abort ? 



Mr. Gold. He was confined to my own stock. 



Mr. Garfield. I would inquire if it is known w^hether 

 or not the cows that run on large ranges, or on the western 

 prairies, abort. 



Secretary Russell. The paper states that there has been 

 no complaint made from the cattle ranges in regard to it, but 

 anybody who knows anything about the manner in which 

 cattle are looked after on the ranges would never look to 

 them for facts. They know very little about the cattle they 

 have in charge. 



Mr. Russell of Great Barrington. I rise to support the 

 position that the chairman has taken in regard to the discus- 

 sion of this matter. Certainly I feel as much interest as any 



